LCCI Chairman decries fish feeds importation


 Mr Adeola Elliot, Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday decried the high cost of importing fish feeds, saying it was a major problem facing fish farming in the country.
Elliot, who is also the Chairman of Agriculture and Agro-Allied Group, expressed the concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to him, the problem is being compounded by the challenges posed by the current rise in foreign exchange rate.

Image result for Fish feeds
''The plights of fish farmers have increased with the scarcity of fish feeds as we depend majorly on importation.
''Some people are trying to produce feeds locally but it is difficult to meet the international standard. This is because we do not have the right machinery for fish feed production.
''Many fish farmers have been compelled to improvise fish feeds but this is dangerous,'' he said.
Elliot said that some fish farmers were using garri, cassava and indomie noodles to feed catfish.
''There is nothing people are not using and this is not healthy for the sector,'' he said.

The chairman said that the situation was critical as the nation was still engaged in fish farming at the subsistence level.
He stressed the need to get research institutions, departments of agriculture in the country’s universities to contribute meaningfully towards moving the agricultural sector forward.
Elliot urged the Federal and State Governments to give proper attention to implementation of agricultural policies.

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